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Most Important Problem

Trend, 2001-Present: Percentage of Americans Mentioning Economy as Most Important Problem

What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? [Open-ended]

Recent trend:

Jan
5-8,
2012

Dec
15-18,
2011

Nov
3-6,
2011

%

%

%

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS (NET)

66

64

76

Economy in general

31

26

30

Unemployment/Jobs

26

25

36

Federal budget deficit/Federal debt

8

12

6

Lack of money

3

4

6

Gap between rich and poor

2

1

1

Corporate corruption

1

1

1

Taxes

1

1

2

Fuel/Oil prices

1

1

1

High cost of living/Inflation

1

1

3

Wage issues

*

*

*

Foreign trade/Trade deficit

*

1

*

Recession

*

--

1

NON-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS (NET)

44

49

39

Dissatisfaction with government/Congress/politicians;
poor leadership/corruption/abuse of power

15

16

13

Poor healthcare/hospitals; high cost of healthcare

6

5

4

Immigration/Illegal aliens

3

3

3

Education/Poor education/Access to education

3

4

3

Ethics/Moral/Religious/Family decline; dishonesty

2

6

3

Foreign aid/Focus overseas

2

1

1

Judicial system/Courts/Laws

2

2

1

International issues, problems

2

1

*

Lack of respect for each other

1

4

2

Poverty/Hunger/Homelessness

1

5

2

Wars/War (nonspecific)/Fear of war

1

1

3

National security

1

1

1

Unifying the country

1

1

*

Lack of military defense

1

*

1

Welfare

1

1

1

Drugs

1

*

--

Environment/Pollution

1

1

*

Social Security

1

1

1

Energy/Lack of energy sources

1

1

*

Terrorism

1

1

1

Abortion

1

*

*

Situation/War in Afghanistan

1

1

*

War/Conflict between Middle East nations

*

*

*

Elections/Election reform

*

*

1

Race relations/Racism

*

1

1

Situation in Iraq

*

*

1

Crime/Violence

*

*

1

Care for the elderly/Medicare

*

1

*

Advancement of computers/Technology

*

--

--

Children's behavior/Way they are raised

*

*

*

Gay rights issues

*

1

*

The media

*

--

--

Overpopulation

--

*

*

Guns/Gun control

--

--

--

Other non-economic

3

6

2

No opinion

2

1

2

Total

131%

141%

137%

* Less than 0.5%

Which political party do you think can do a better job of handling the problem you think is most important -- the Republican Party or the Democratic Party?

Republican

Democratic

Other party/
No difference/
No opinion

%

%

%
2011 Sep 8-11

44

37

19
2010 Sep 13-16

40

38

22

2009 Aug 31-Sep 2

34

45

20

2008 Sep 8-11

39

46

14

2007 Sep 14-16

30

47

22

2006 Sep 7-10

34

49

16

2005 Sep 12-15

39

40

21

2005 Jan 3-5

41

41

18

2004 Sep 13-15

46

43

11

2004 Jan 12-15

39

46

15

2002 Jul 26-28

38

36

26

2001 Jan 10-14

39

39

22

1999 Jan 15-17

33

43

24

1998 Apr 17-19

40

42

18

1997 Jan 10-13

33

43

24

1996 Jul 25-28

37

41

22

1996 May 9-12

40

44

16

1995 Jan 16-18

42

32

26

1994 Oct 22-25

41

37

22

1994 Aug 15-16

38

37

25

1994 Aug 8-9

39

37

24

1994 Jul 15-17

39

32

29

1994 Jan

31

39

30

1993 Sep 10-12

31

37

32

1993 Jan 8-11

29

45

26

1992 Mar 26-29

34

40

26

1991 Jul 11-14

36

28

36

1991 Mar 7-10

40

27

33

1990 Oct

30

29

41

1988 Sep

38

33

29

1988 May 9-11

27

40

33

1987 Apr 10-13

29

37

34

1986 Jan 10-13

33

28

39

1985 Jan 25-28

39

29

32

1984 Aug 10-13

39

37

24

1984 Feb 10-13

30

32

38

1983 Nov 18-21

28

35

37

1982 Aug 13-16

26

35

39

1981 Jan 8-11

39

20

41

1980 Mar 28-31

28

32

40

1979 Oct 12-15

25

33

42

1976 Apr 23-26

18

39

43

1975 Oct 17-20

15

42

43

1972 Aug

28

34

38

1968 May

30

28

42

1964 Apr 24-29

16

40

44

1960 Feb 4-9

24

32

44

1956 Sep 20-25

55

45

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